How to deal with Eid traffic woes: RTA sets up a plan

Buses will provide services to the public starting from 1pm up to the end of events during the Eid days. (Supplied)

By

Staff

PublishedWednesday, July 15, 2015

As Eid Al Fitr holidays are round the corner, Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has prepared a plan to ease traffic woes of Dubai residents.

RTA has worked out a comprehensive plan for managing the traffic movement and mass transit for serving the needs of the public and road users during Eid al-Fitr holiday.

Explaining the plan, engineer Maitha bin Udai, CEO of RTA Traffic and Roads Agency said: "The RTA has worked out operational plans for serving riders during the holiday of Eid al-Fitr; which always experiences traffic congestion.

"The plan, which encompasses Burj Khalifa district, included installing 20 directional signs to guide traffic to internal roads of the Business Bay up to the Sheikh Zayed Road, and Al Khail Road to ease the pressure on the Financial Center Road.

"Temporary signs have also been put in place to direct road users to Zabeel bridges leading to Burj Khalifa from Sheikh Rashid Street. To ensure the smooth traffic flow during peak hours, the light signals on the Financial Center Road will be monitored and controlled to achieve optimal traffic flow."

She added, "A program is currently underway involving preventive maintenance and cleaning of Eid Prayers, mosques, bridges and tunnels.

"Particular attention is given to washing main tunnels and metal rail of bridges, removing dust and solid deposits on pavements, especially at bridges, washing pedestrian bridges, and cleaning directional signage at main roads of the Emirate.

"A technical team comprising engineers and inspectors of the Roads Maintenance Department has coordinated with the Traffic and Roads Departments a survey of areas around Eid prayers to take necessary corrective measures required for making any carry out emergency repairs during the end of the holy month of Ramadan."

Adel Shakri, Director of Planning and Business Development cum Head of the Public Transport Team in the team responsible for the management of traffic movement and the handling of operational plans during annual events, said, "10 public buses have been deployed to offer free commuting to the public from the Dubai Mall to the Dubai World Trade Center to make for the anticipated high occupancy of taxis in vital areas of the Emirate during Eid al-Fitr holiday.

"Buses will provide services to the public starting from 1pm up to the end of events during the Eid days. A team of traffic controllers will be at site to directly cope with events, and pick up points have been fixed for buses dedicated to lifting tourists along the Financial Center Road, and tourists will be directed to the specific loading areas."

Shakri urged the public to use the smart app 'Sharekni'; which has just been launched, enabling individuals to share vehicles in traveling around the city in a bid to slash the number of vehicles on Dubai roads, offer smooth mobility, and reduce tailbacks at areas where Eid celebrations take place.

As regards the taxi sector Shakri said, "We have coordinated with the franchise companies in the Emirate (Dubai Taxi, Cars Taxi, Arabia Taxi, National Taxi, Metro Taxi and City Taxi) to ensure the operational efficiency of taxis such that the number of taxicabs operated during Eid al-Fitr holiday is not less than 95% of the taxi fleet (9341 vehicles). Besides that, taxicabs will be distributed to Dubai districts, especially tourist sites, malls & festivity areas.

"All limo companies will be allowed to lift riders during Eid days from malls witnessing high density visitors, such as the most prominent tourist destination the Dubai Mall.

"The Booking and Distribution Center will be ready to offer 24-hour service for clients by receiving booking requests, deploying Hala Taxi cabs to serve clients of the center, and establishing a link between the Center and staffs at site in support of external events as well," added Shakri.

The Dubai Taxi Corporation has set up an emergency team during Eid al-Fitr to serve the needs of all customers, visitors, service users, motorists and taxi riders.

Alternatives plans and mini teams have been set up to support the main team as required by the nature of services. Plans include supporting Dubai Airports (T1, 2 and 3 in addition to Al Maktoum Airport), Dubai Mall, Metro Stations and different events in the Emirate in coordination with the customers’ service section at the Agency and other entities such as the Civil Aviation, Dubai Airports and the Booking & Despatch Center at the RTA.

The Dubai Taxi Corporation stands ready to receive customer requests for taxis during the Eid period and afterwards so as to ensure the availability of taxis in residential areas, malls, metro stations, airports, hospitals and streets in addition to the Booking and Despatch Requests by calling the number 04-2080808.